CHAPTER FOUR

---ALYSSA---

My day was basically spent with Emily and Grandma with good wishes from people here and there along the line. Around 1:00 pm, a message was announced around the pack that a pack meeting would be held. We were all curious about what it was because only important events were announced by the pack's alpha directly to us.

I was getting ready for the meeting. I walked to the closet and picked up leather pants and a strapless top. I am so full right now that I can barely move my legs. From the amount of food, I ate which was shoved down my throat by grandma and Emily with the excuse, "Today is your birthday Alyssa so you need to eat a lot" I put on my dress and walked to the vanity table.

I looked in the mirror and my blue eyes had a sparkle in them, maybe due to me turning 16, which is a big part of everyone's life in the werewolf realm. Practically, that's where your life starts.

My cheeks looked chubbier. Why won't it? From all the food grandma has been shoving down my throat, for instance, like Ollie, he hardly walks around because he is too huge.

I'm sure within a month Emily will gain a few more pounds. I combed my hair and tied it up in a bun.

"Alyssa, what at all are you doing? Hurry up and get here", grandma yelled from the hall.

Oh, fuck, I almost forgot" I am coming Grandma", I yelled.

I picked up my bag along with my phone and walked down the stairs.

"Let's go, Hun "Grandma said. Ollie began to bark. I guess he noticed we were leaving him at home.

"Don't worry, Ollie. I'll be right back" Grandma said, patting his head, which made me roll my eyes.

I locked the door on my way out and placed the key in my bag. The pack was surrounded by forests, which made it hard for humans to find, because they think which normal living being lives in a forest away from the good things life in the city has to offer?

I was appreciating the view when I felt a tap from behind. I turned, and it was Emily with her parents also on their way to their pack meeting.

"How are you doing, dear?" Emily's mom and dad asked me." I am fine Mr. and Mrs. Anderson", I answered back.

Emily looked exactly like her mom from the brunette hair to the shape of their nose. I almost forgot to tell you Emily has a brother called Michael, who was two years older than us.

"Hi, Michael", I greeted him.

"Hi Alyssa, it's been a while" he muttered.

"Yes, it has "I replied shortly.

Grandma immediately began speaking to Alyssa's parents, and as usual, Michael went back to listening to his music.

"Do you know what the meeting is about?" Emily asked me, munching on a cookie.

"I have no idea, Emily "I said to her as we walked through various cottages to the Pack house.

In my Pack this is how it works. If you don't want to live in a pack house, you will be given a cottage to live in, but living in a pack house comes with a lot of benefits. For instance, breakfast, lunch and supper will be prepared by the maids working there, so you do not need to lift a finger to do anything unless you want a treat personally.

Everything is done together there as long as you live there. I had always wanted to experience that, but grandma said no. I used to go there when I was young but stopped when Lucas began to make advances towards me. I got there and the crowd was enormous as always when we have a pack meeting.

The bricking came down when Alpha Kane and Luna Grace came into view, to show a sign of respect with Lucas standing behind them.

" You are all probably confused about what the meeting is about since it was called on short notice. Alpha Kane has always been a man of humor, which makes people feel at ease when around him. He stretched out his hand to take a paper from his Beta.

" Okay, a letter came in today from the royal kingdom, the blood moon pack ". Immediately he said that the atmosphere became stiff. He noticed it too and began to laugh, that's the typical alpha Kane we have there.

I just heard behind me a young pup says, what if we are about to be killed?" which made me laugh. Why will the king of all alphas destroy a pack? I don't blame the young pup because of all the tales we have been hearing about that alpha Xavier.

" No need to panic my pack members, I am about to read the letter which came just two hours ago" he said.

" I read, dear pack members of Riverdale pack as usual, the annual ball which is always organized every year, is about to commence and I state it is compulsory for every unmated female and male to be present on that day and only the ages of 16 and above can be present and I state again only unmated werewolves. Failure to attend when you are within the age eligible will receive punishment by the alpha king himself, king Xavier. I know you are all shocked as to why a letter just this year was sent to the pack because it came to our notice that people have been avoiding going to the ball. Please do well to attend the ball this year in your gowns,

The Royal Kingdom,

Alpha Xavier.

Noises began to emerge when alpha Kane immediately finished reading the letter.

"Silence" he said, using his alpha command.

" I have no other choice but, as a leader of the pack to adhere to the message from my superior. You heard the message from my superior in the letter. No one should exempt him or herself when you are unmated and also at the age requirement", he said loud and clear on the stage.

" So please adhere to these instructions from the alpha king himself. You can now go to your various abodes. The meeting has ended" and he and his mate were out of the premises.

I saw a lot of girls happily giggling around with their friends and others not so happy, probably not wanting to leave their parents when their mates are from another pack just like me. I saw myself in them.

" Emily, when will you turn 16?" I asked because I had forgotten.

" In two days', time", she said nonchantly."

The ball was on the twentieth of this month. This means the ball was in a week and Emily, too, will probably find her mate then. Wow. It just felt like yesterday when grandma used to drop me off at school. I could feel my life was about to take a drastic turn.

The name alpha Xavier brought chills down my spine anytime I heard his name. Some of the girls in my pack have been fantasizing about being his mate, but at the end of the ball, they get disappointed. This has been happening way back when the ball started about a decade ago.

I feel bad for them whenever they get home at the end of the ball wailing their eyes out. Lucy, a girl who lives three cottages away, grew up with the obsession of Xavier being her mate.

" Alyssa, let's go " grandma said. That was when I noticed I was daydreaming.

" Where are Emily and her parents," I muttered, looking around.

" They left saying they were going to get some stuff from town for home" she answered, taking her steps to the direction of our home.

" Okay" I replied and followed behind her.

I opened the doors since I had the keys with me. Ollie immediately began to bark around when I opened the door and went in the direction of grandma as always. I wonder if this dog has a thing against me sometimes because he only regards grandma and behaves as if I am invincible to him. Ugh! Grandma sat on the sofa with Ollie beside her.

" Dear, hand me the remote please" she asked warmly, looking in the direction of the remote on the table.

I walked to it and gave it to her. She kept searching the channels for her favorite series, the baking rush, which was about to start in a couple of minutes.

"Dear, when will you go shopping for your gown for the ball" grandma asked, still searching the channels while I bent over the sofa lazily.

" Maybe, tomorrow with Emily, I will ask her and give you a response", I answered shortly.

I really did not want to go for the ball. I would not have gone if not for the punishment which came along with it. Fuck them, why do they have to be so smart?

I saw grandma looking at me when I raised my head. I guess she realized what I was thinking.

"You, Alyssa, are going for that ball whether you like it or not" she said sternly, like how she used to do when I was a child. This moment brought back great memories.

"But I did not say I am not going, grandma."

"I know you, Alyssa, like the back of my palm" she muttered.

" Oh grandma ", which made me laugh loudly.

" So, when you are ready tell me "She said.

" Oh, I almost forgot to give you this", she opened her bag and took a bank card and a necklace.

" Take this, it is a little something from me to you and this necklace. When I found you in the woods, it was around your neck, but I decided to give it to you once you turn 16, so it won't go missing", she said, handling the necklace to me.

The necklace looked so beautiful. It was made of diamonds. The pendant on the necklace was love shaped with the name Alyssa written behind it.

" I decided to name you Alyssa because I am definitely sure your parents wanted those who found you to name you Alyssa, that is why they left the necklace on your neck" she said, sitting on the chair. I got up and hugged her as tears snaked down my face.

" Thank you, grandma, you are the best I could ever wish for" I said to her, still in her embrace. We remained like that for almost two minutes.

" Welcome dear" she said, wiping my face with her handkerchief.

Ollie began to bark, probably jealous about me getting all the attention." You know I love you Ollie, why do you need to be a jealous boy" she said, hugging him,

" Grandma Ollie is so jealous of me" I said.

" No, he is not" she disagreed.

" Yes, he is you said that a few seconds ago".

" Okay, that's enough, my show is about to begin " she said, looking at the screen.

I turned and began to admire the necklace, which looked so simple but elegant at the same time.

It felt like it held something about me, but I did not know what it was. I took the bank card and looked at it, which held my name Alyssa Johnson on it. I was so grateful to the moon goddess for blessing me with another person when my parents did not want me anymore. I clasped the necklace on my neck and placed the card in my bag.